[fyrefly]

Seems like it's not... The price in the Refurb Store has been Steadily dropping. Started at $899, the a few weeks ago dropped to $799, and is now $699!

$300 off seems steep, no? Maybe a hint of an impending price cut in September (alongside new iMacs/MacPros with Blu Ray?)

Refurbished Apple LED Cinema Display (24" flat panel) - Apple Store (Canada)

 

[wonderings]

I would love that screen. I am using a 22 inch dell screen at the moment. Its ok, but I really like the glossy. My desk is in a perfect place for a glossy screen as well.

 

[Zion21]

Seems like it's not... The price in the Refurb Store has been Steadily dropping. Started at $899, the a few weeks ago dropped to $799, and is now $699!

$300 off seems steep, no? Maybe a hint of an impending price cut in September (alongside new iMacs/MacPros with Blu Ray?)

Refurbished Apple LED Cinema Display (24" flat panel) - Apple Store (Canada)

I dont know about the rest of you guys but even $699 for this monitor seems way overpriced. I would rather get a dell equivalent for half the price anyday. Screens are screens lol.

 

[MacDoc]

Screens aren't screens but it's over priced -

 

[groovetube]

to the average Joe a screen -is- a screen.

To you and I, and other pros/discerning users, no.

 

[bsenka]

I dont know about the rest of you guys but even $699 for this monitor seems way overpriced. I would rather get a dell equivalent for half the price anyday. Screens are screens lol.

You're right, but for the reason you think.

There's definitely a difference in screens. Problem is, the difference is almost inversely related to price. Apple's current glossy screens are some of the worst you can buy in terms of image quality and colour accuracy, yet they are still far more expensive that much better screens. That's where you are right: $699 is still ridiculous for what you're getting with the 24" Apple glossy.

 

[Commodus]

If sales aren't great, the gloss might have something to do with it, but not the price.

At last check, Apple is probably using the 24-inch iMac's panel, which is a particularly high-end, color accurate LCD. Most of these displays cost several hundred dollars simply because of the technology behind them, especially when they're LED-backlit.

Besides arguably needing a matte display, Apple needs a panel that's a noticeable step down: a slightly less accurate display (but not too far down) and a smaller screen size. Not sure if that will happen given that even 20-inch iMacs are being marginalized, but it'd go a long way towards driving Mac mini sales...

 

[MacDoc]

Same panel on the 24" monitor and the iMac 24" - the lack of user friendly on the 24" is dumb. It's not a bad panel but glossy and connection issues and short warranty = fail.

Apple needs a 12 bit to compete in the high end on stand alone monitors or at least a 10 bit like the LaCie 324 which is not much more money. If you add in warranty cost for 3 years - they are almost the same price.
With Apple's clout in volume they COULD - but they want the big margin....
They'd get more respect with a Pro monitor..

As it is you can get the same panel in an HP with a 3 year warranty for less money and with lots more flexibility in inputs.

However,, the 8 bit I-SPS panel is one reason we are pleased with the value on the remaining 2.8 24" iMacs - combo of speed and panel makes it a flexible and cost effective box. 4 gigs of RAM upgradeable to 6, 1 TB drive - S-IPS panel and 2.8 gHz, dedicated video under $1800= good deal for visual artists or video editors.

Given how expensive the towers are - it's decent intermediate solution in an all in one that looks good.

 

[vfr]

You've really got to wonder WTF Apple was thinking when they blessed the 24" LED Cinema Display with only a single Mini DisplayPort input. They would have sold one more if I could of used it with a DVI/HDMI video card on a non-Apple product. Instead, Dell gets another order...

 

[Manatus]

Right now the Apple standalone displays seem to be like the old Apple printers used to be, almost as if they're only making them so they can say they offer a "complete solution". They're overpriced, don't suit everyone and not even that good a choice for people with that kind of budget.

 

[vfr]

> They're overpriced

Not by much if you really look at the specs. Show me someone else's 24" 1920x1200 LED back-light 8-bit RGB LCD monitor for a similar price.

All the cheap flat panels you see at FutureShop, TigerDirect and elsewhere use TN panel displays. These are 6-bit RGB - really only 262,144 colours and fakery used for "16 million" colours. No bleepin' thanks. Read here for more info on this subject: Desperately Seeking Quality LCDs.

Almost all the other flat panels use florescent lamps (with non-environmentally friendly mercury inside) for lighting. These fade, go yellowish over time, and then die. LED-based lighting will stay brighter and work for much, much longer.

While a 10- or 12- bit per RGB LCD monitor would be nice, almost all of the video cards out there only support 8-bit RGB so the extra 2 or 4 bits per pixel are basically wasted and you won't really see any extra gamut. Not to mention that the OS also has to support more than 8-bits per pixel.

 

[Manatus]

Well what I mean is, for the average user they are far too expensive (for an unneeded or unnoticeable benefit), but for the pro user they don't have enough features, or are in some way inferior to another specialist product. Like you and others have said, they don't have enough connection options, or there isn't the option to get it in a matte screen, or other things that a top-end user might want. So it's kind of stuck in the middle - on the one hand Apple can't compete with the low-end Acer etc monitors (which would probably harm the brand anyway), but on the other hand it doesn't have the "oomph" that a professional user might expect for a close to $1,000 price tag.

 

[fyrefly]

Well what I mean is, for the average user they are far too expensive (for an unneeded or unnoticeable benefit)

I challenge even Joe "WalMart-lover" Sizpack to not notice the difference between a PVA or IPS panel and a TN Panel when shown the two side-by-side.

However,, the 8 bit I-SPS panel is one reason we are pleased with the value on the remaining 2.8 24" iMacs - combo of speed and panel makes it a flexible and cost effective box. 4 gigs of RAM upgradeable to 6, 1 TB drive - S-IPS panel and 2.8 gHz, dedicated video under $1800= good deal for visual artists or video editors.

I was under the impression that the Alu iMacs are PVA panels - like the 24" Dell Monitors. The White iMacs had IPS panels, but I *thought* the Aluminum 24"ers have PVA's or MVAs I think.

Though there may be some crossover...
My WHITE 24" C2D iMac has a H-IPS panel - Mac Forums

 

[MacDoc]

Apple iMac 24" 12ms G2G 24"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM240WU2-(SL)(B1))

Apple Alu 24" 12ms G2G 24"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM240WU2-(SL)(B1))

Apple LED Cinema Display 14ms 24"WS LG.Display H-IPS (LM240WU6-SDA1)

I've got a White iMac 24" here marked at $999 that for the life of me I can't understand why it has not sold.

Matte panel.....best of the line and it languishes while the 20" sell.....go figure...

•••

While a 10- or 12- bit per RGB LCD monitor would be nice, almost all of the video cards out there only support 8-bit RGB so the extra 2 or 4 bits per pixel are basically wasted and you won't really see any extra gamut. Not to mention that the OS also has to support more than 8-bits per pixel.

The colour capability is in the electronics of the monitor in the case

That's why they are fat

NEC SpectraView 2490 / 2690 / 3090 Monitors | DigitalPixels.net - Photography Blog

Speaking of the NEC 90 series....

"Who is it For?
If you're a photographer or designer working with color managed applications, and the best display you've ever used is an Apple Cinema Display, this monitor will rock your world

and that's true...it's shocking how good they are - it's giggle to see photographers reactions.......but it cost....

Apple COULD choose this route......

 

[esquilo22]

My BENQ 24" HD monitor does the job pretty well. It is plastic but looks like aluminum so it goes well with my Macbook.

It also has HDMI input where I connect my video game.

I would never pay Apple Tax for a monitor.